Breakout Presenters

Breakout Presenters

Katrina Anderson: Activate Your Students’ Minds Using Technology Katrina has taught elementary P.E. in Granite School District for seven years. She received her B.S. in Elementary Education from Utah Valley University and her M.A.Ed in English Language Learning from Western Governor’s University. She is a firm believer that movement has a positive benefite on learning and loves getting all of her students moving and trying new things.

Tim Best: Activities 4 Kids Tim has been an educator for 25 years. He was named the Utah Teacher of the Year in 2005. He is currently the Healthy Lifestyle supervisor for Davis School District. Tim earned Phi Kappa Phi honor society top 3% college graduates. He holds a master’s degree in Exercise Science. Tim also is a Praxis rater for ETS. In 2014, Tim received the Certificate of Excellence Award from Governor Herbert. He is married with 3 kids.

Bruce Brinkman: It’s Hip to Be Square Bruce has taken a vow of poverty by choosing to teach for the last 50 years (O.K. it’s only 32 but it seems like 50). Ten years as a classroom teacher (1^st, 2^nd, and 4^th grades) and 22 years as a Physical Education Specialist. He is currently the Healthy Lifestyles District Specialist for Salt Lake City School District and teaches Elementary Physical Education at UVU. Bruce is also the current SHAPE UTAH president. He is the owner of Hoppy Taw L.L.C., which is the manufacturer of the Hoppy Taws for hopscotch. He enjoys long walks on the beach (ok maybe just on the sidewalk around his block) with his best friend and wife of 38 years (also a teacher). He has 4 or 5 kids (after the first 2 he lost track) and 1 grandson. 

Ann Busico: Fun with None to Some (minimal equipment, minimal budget) Ann graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor Degree in Health Sciences. Her emphasis was in Recreational Therapy. She worked at the Columbus School for Disabled Adults teaching everything from cooking to swimming to games and crafts. She also worked with children at Shriners Hospital adapting games and physical activities for fun and exercise. She stepped out of the working world for 20 years to raise four children. When an opportunity to teach P.E. part time at Uintah Elementary opened she jumped at the chance. She has been playing and having fun with K-6 grade kids at Uintah full time for the last 16 years. She is always on the hunt for the next fun game. She has a BIG family and they have been the best “guinea pigs” to try new games on. Kids games are not just for kids. They’ve had some pretty funny times playing together, especially the adults.

Melissa Cowder: Nourish to Flourish Melissa is a Child Nutrition Specialist with the Utah State Board of Education (USBE). She helps oversee the Food Distribution Program and conducts TEFAP and Administrative Reviews. Melissa earned her bachelor’s degree in Health Promotion from Weber State University. Prior to joining the schools team at USBE, she was the Wellness Coordinator at Box Elder County. Her favorite hobbies are working out and traveling with her husband.

Carly Donahue: Activate Your Students’ Minds Using Technology Carly has taught elementary P.E. in Granite School District for six years. She graduated with her B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Utah in 2012 and will have her master’s in physical education completed in August 2018. It is her hope that when students leaver her class they will feel energized and leave with a greater knowledge of physical activity as well as skills that will be able to help them in the future.

Shannon Ference: STEM: Moving for Measurement Shannon serves as the Elementary Mathematics Specialist for the Utah State Board of Education. Shannon has taught and/or coached in Nebo School District, Fairfax County Public Schools in North Virginia, and in the Salt Lake City School District. She has served in various math leadership roles and has extensive background in designing and facilitating professional development, instructing undergraduate and graduate mathematics methods and endorsement course, and engaging in research on Elementary Mathematics Specialists. In her current role, Shannon supports Utah Schools and Local Education Agencies in the implementation of state math standards to ensure equitable and quality mathematics education for all Utah students.

Mandy King: Incorporating Movement into the Classroom Mandy has taught physical education for 11 years in public, private and charter schools. Her B.S. is in Exercise and Sport Science, M.A. in Coaching and Athletic Administration, and will be completing her Ph.D. in August 2018 in Exercise and Sport Science. Mandy currently serves on the Leadership Council as a member at large for the SHAPE America South West District and as the elementary specialist on the SHAPE Utah board.

Lynne Larson:  Curriculum and Creative Movement = Fun Learning Lynne received a BFA in Dance from Western Michigan University and a MFA in Dance from University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.  She danced professionally with Martita Goshen’s Earthworks, Repertory Dance Theatre, SBDance and Koester & Dancers.  In 2007, she was named Education Director for Repertory Dance Theatre, and in 2014, Artistic Associate as well.  She coordinates all arts-in-education activities for RDT, directs RDT’s annual Summerdance and Winterdance Workshops, High School and Young Dancer Summer Workshops, rehearsal directs numerous pieces in the RDT repertory and assists in artistic long-range planning for the company.  Lynne is an accomplished teacher of students K-professional in creative movement and modern dance.  This is her fourth year presenting at the USBE’s PLS for PE Conference.  Lynne is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Utah in the School of Dance and also teaches Barre Classes at The Dailey Method Barre Studio in Cottonwood Heights, UT.

Becky Low Nourish to Flourish Becky has a Master’s Degree from Utah State University in Consumer Science. Throughout her career she has enjoyed studying the factors that drive consumer behavior.

Becky started her professional career as a Home Economics teacher (now called Family and Consumer Science), teaching in Idaho, Nevada, and Utah. She received her biggest reward as a teacher was when a student learned a new skill, gained confidence, or they finally “got it.” She loves to see kids and adults learn. While teaching school at a state girls’ correctional institution in Nevada she personally “got it,” when she recognized how basic life skills and choices made at home and school impact all other aspects of an individual’s life and shape future choices and successes. She learned from the incarcerated students that when you have knowledge you the power of choice; it’s never too late to learn; and, use your freedoms wisely.

After eight years teaching high school, Becky traded in her chalkboard and returned to Utah State University as associate Cooperative Extension professor in Salt Lake County. Over the next thirteen years she taught numerous adult classes – helping families and children live healthier lives through adequate nutrition; answered countless consumer questions; wrote newspaper articles, newsletters, fact sheets, and a food storage manual; directed foods and nutrition education program for low-income families in Salt Lake, Utah, and San Juan counties; and became a regular cooking contributor on the NBC TV affiliate KSL Noon News.

In 1999 Becky joined the Dairy Council of UT/NV where she currently manages Health and Wellness programs. In her work Becky shares sound science, good nutrition, and helps reconnect consumers to where their food comes from. Her diverse work finds her working with educators, health professionals, administrators, teachers, school nutrition professionals, business experts, and the dairy farmers of Utah. In 2007 Becky became a weekly contributor to KSL TV lifestyle program Studio 5. She speaks in terms consumers understand. Weekly she shares everyday recipes, nutrition tips and science based facts consumers appreciate and look forward to.

Marilyn Morris Learn to Ride, then Ride to Learn: Bicycle Safety Marilyn has been an Injury Prevention Specialist for Primary Children's Hospital for over 12 years. She is a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician and also an Instructor for Transporting Children with Special Health Care Needs. She makes sure her grandchildren always wear helmets. 

Jackie Parker Beginning Tennis for Elementary Students Jackie has taught elementary physical education for 19 years for Salt Lake City School District. She has received the Physical Education Teacher of the Year award for the state of Utah and the Elementary P.E. Teacher of the Year. Jackie has been a teaching pro for Salt Lake Tennis and Health Club for 5 years. Jackie has only played tennis for 11 years. She as competed in 6 national championships. Jackie also has special certifications to teach mentally handicapped adults and children, and to teach cardio tennis.

Sue Skeen P.E. – Fun with None to Some (minimal equipment, minimal budget)

Andy Tupy ACTION! Team Games Andy is the West Regional Sales Manager for Gopher, a nationwide vendor for Physical Education, Athletics, Fitness, Recreation and Health.  He has lead over 60 activity sessions in the past six years and has presented these sessions all over the nation.  Some include the state PE conventions in New Jersey, Virginia, Tennessee, Maryland, Georgia, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Florida, Connecticut, California, Utah and South Carolina.  He has also presented at many other summer workshops including the Virginia HPA Institute, Southwest Virginia conference, the University of Kentucky Paws, CPEW, PEACH, KAHPERD summer workshop, Michigan AHPERD summer workshop, Florida Tri-County workshop and many more.  More recently he has also been presenting for individual school district as well totaling more than 30 in over the past 3 years. Andy currently lives in New Prague MN, where there are more cows than people. He is married to his high school sweetheart and together they have two children, ages 7 and 10. He is an Amy veteran and currently serving in the MN Air National Guard with 6 months left to hit 20 years! He has a love of 80’s music, especially Def Leppard and Journey.

Marques Varela Learn to Ride, then Ride to Learn: Bicycle Safety Marques is the Vulnerable Roadway Users Program Manager with the Utah Department of Public Safety. He oversees statewide bicycle safety initiatives including the Road Respect and Bicycle Rodeo Trailer programs. Marques has an extensive background on two wheels. He was an avid BMX rider and racer through his early 20’s and can still be found making occasional runs at local riding spots. He typically spends Saturday mornings out on his 1993 Schwinn Paramount road bike along the Jordan River trail. Marques received his Masters in Government and Public Service from Texas A&M University.

Jake Via Play with a Purpose: Leveraging play to improve the health and well being of students Jake joined Playworks as a Pro trainer in 2016. He is beyond thrilled to share his enthusiasm for the transformative power of play with schools across the country. Since his first job as a swim instructor at a YMCA in 1998, Jake has applied his passion for training youth and adults of all ages by promoting the potential of play to build motor skills, self-confidence, teamwork, community, and joy. Jake has worked all over the country as a program director with youth camps, YMCA’s, school districts, and national parks. In his free time, he enjoys being active with his spouse and dogs somewhere along the Wasatch Front. Jake is an avid explorer who is known for his magic skills, finding comfort in the uncomfortable, and always asking, “Why?”.

Kellie Yates: STEM: Moving for Measurement Kellie is the STEM Liaison and Outreach Specialist at the STEM Action Center. Formally, she worked as a teacher in the public-school system, teaching, university, high school and middle school technology and engineering for 11 years before joining the STEM team. Ms. Yates is a passionate believer in STEM education and training and will be using her interests and skills to help advance STEM education in Utah.